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Topic : HIV/AIDS Support Group

If you or a loved one is battling HIV or AIDS, find support and share resources and advice with others here.

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Thank You, Grandma

Hello. I am a Grandmother who has AIDS as a result of a rape on me in 1990.My health has fluctuated: I have good days and I have "necessary" days - those days when I am not doing so well. I refer to them as such because they are necessary so that I can remember how good I feel when I am having good days.Anyone who has not yet been tested SHOULD do yourself a favour and get tested. Trust me! The NOT KNOWING is worse than knowing is.You owe it to yourself and any sexual partners you may have to know if you are infected with HIV.It terrifies me to hear how so many people are of the false assumption that there are so many drugs available now that it doesnt really matter if one becomes infected or not.I just attended the funeral of a young woman last week. She and her eldest and youngest child all tested positive - her middle child tested negative. She was too young to die and her children were too young to be left without their mother.My suggestion is not to go for test results alone. Bring a friend with you. And just because one might test negative, does not necessarily mean they do not have HIV. It could be that the test was taken too soon after infection and it hasn't yet shown up on blood work . It amazes me how many people think if they test negative once they will always test negative regardless of risks taken. I am open to questions if anyone has any.Take care and play safe!

I am a certified Red Cross HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education instructor and I thank you for sharing accurate information, I suggest that everyone take the class at Red Cross and then be tested. Remember, it's not who you are but what you do that puts you at risk! It's not just your life that gets affected, its your family and loved ones also. I am negative for HIV/AIDS but I do have progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

HIV info,

Hi, I have a friend who is H. I. V positive but in remission, so shesays and she has 2 beatiful boys who are tested every so often, they are very young, any way she recently slept with one of my friends who dosent know I know, She says they used protection and Iam just scared for them both I have never been close to any one who has this and Idont believe in treating her any diffrent than any of my other friends, But I give her a hug alot, and she gets real close to my face, Do I have any thing to worry about? I really dont think i do but i still want to ask andalso what does remminssion mean any way does that mean she will beat it or its just under control temporary? Any one have any info on this please.........

I am a certified Red Cross HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education instructor. HIV does not go into remission. Once you test positive you will always be positive and can spread the HIV to someone else. This done by sharing certain body fluids or by sharing dirrty needles for drug use, both illicit or medically necessary. This disease strikes anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, race, religion or gender. It is carried in the blood, sexual fluids both male and female, mother's milk. You cannot get it from casual contact. You can safely share silverware, plates and glasses without a worry. You MUST NOT have blood contact with an infected person . If that person bleeds from anywhere and it gets into your blood stream you will probably get infected. Hugging and getting close to their face is safe. Even though your friend says she is in remission, she should not have sexual relatiions without proper protection. Abstinence is safest.

Get tested.

Hi, I have not been diagnosed with HIV, but my brother is positive and my friend was recently in the hospital for HIV/AIDs complications. He is now doing ok and out of the hospital. I went to visit him in the hospital and while I was leaving, I gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I have since been worried that I could have contracted the virus by kissing him on the cheek while he was sick in the hospital! I just recently got married when I was 34 and in my 20s I was pretty wild. I worked as a stripper and I slept with 4 of my customers. I also drank a lot of alcohol back then and would have lots of unprotected sex and one-night stands. I even worked at a "massage" parlor for 1 month, too. My life is totally different now, but sometimes I wonder, "what if I have HIV from the life I lead in my 20s?" I went and got tested a few years ago, but I never went back for the results. I feel sure if I was positive they would of called me, though. I'm thinking of buying that home HIV kit soon. I really don't think I have it, but I would really like the peace of mind knowing for sure. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

As an HIV/AIDS instructor for the Red Cross I can tell you that a hug and a kiss on the cheek will NOT infect you. It's the risky behavior from your previous activities you mentioned. You were tested and never got results. Go back and get tested again and this time stay for the results. You will receive pre-test counseling and post-test counseling. If you tested positive you will get the information you need to deal with it. Knowing is much better than not knowing. HIV is spread at an alarming rate by people who really don't thing they have it and don't get tested. Remember, it is not who you are but what you do that puts you at risk.

affraid to take an HIV test

I want to have a kid but i am affraid to take an HIV test, i have never tested but i alway donate blood they always ask me to come and donate, is it possible they could be asking me for more even if they no i am HIV positive. i realy wish i had the strength to go 4 the test, i want to and every year i set a gool to do just that but i never achieve my gool can u pliz help achive that goal this year before i have baby , which i have scheduled for next year when i finish school and only when my boyfriend agrees with me as he is refusing at the moment. i am scred of how i am going react if the results come positive. and i dont no how i am going to handle it.

Lending A Hand

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to post this message because I am very concerned for my dear friend. My friend was diagnoised with H.I.V approximately 8 years ago. Her husband didn't tell her that he was H.I.V infected before they were married, she found out that she was ill during her seventh month of pregnancy, and now she's scared to have her child tested again. She and her husband separated about 1 year ago, and now she is very depressed because she feels as if her life is over, that she'll never be able to experience a sexual relationship again. I don't know how to relate to her and the issues that she faces daily, all I can do is be there to listen. I have so much respect for her, she still continues to take care of her children, and she has been through so much within the last few years. Her husband has been nothing more than a 'creep', and he has since turned his back on her, and feels as if his responsibilties to her has been concluded since they have been apart.

I pray daily that soon, there will be good news as it relates to finding a cure for this disease. And I hope that she will find the happiness that she deserves.

Confused and questioning

I am a thirty one year old, white male. I am an 11 yr. survivor of HIV and Hep C. most of that time in active addiction to I.V Heroin and Methamphetimine. I have been to both County Jail and also to State Prison and since my visit to Prison I have been sober for almost 1 yr.

My Viral Load has always been undetectable, even while I was in deep addiction and my CD-4 count has always been high, in the 700's. While in Prison I sought no care for either disease and wasn't treated for anything until my release in May of 07. Upon my release my counts were all catty-whomped! My viral load is almost 10,000 and my CD-4 count is 400! Is this normal? Shouldn't abstinance from illicit drugs mean that I get healthier?

I know also that while working a program in N/A it's essential that I stay out of super-involved relationships for about a year! Or at least that's what's recommended in the program, what I can't get over is seeing the potential for "love" or the "relationship material" in almost everyone that I seem to come into conact with. I know that I feel lonely and that that feeling is somewhat more intense lately, I think that it is conected to the fear of, maybe never finding that relationship that could matter?

I think also I am confused? Should I be looking for a stable relationship with someone that has HIV? or one with someone that is Negative? I try not to think of this at all right now but really, it seems to dominate alot of my thoughts throughout the day. My craving for sex is unbelievable, and behind that is the whole relationship thing?

There really does seem to be soooo many more questions when I'm sober!!!! It's almost overwhelming!

hi lashawnna

I wanted to post this message because I am very concerned for my dear friend. My friend was diagnoised with H.I.V approximately 8 years ago. Her husband didn't tell her that he was H.I.V infected before they were married, she found out that she was ill during her seventh month of pregnancy, and now she's scared to have her child tested again. She and her husband separated about 1 year ago, and now she is very depressed because she feels as if her life is over, that she'll never be able to experience a sexual relationship again. I don't know how to relate to her and the issues that she faces daily, all I can do is be there to listen. I have so much respect for her, she still continues to take care of her children, and she has been through so much within the last few years. Her husband has been nothing more than a 'creep', and he has since turned his back on her, and feels as if his responsibilties to her has been concluded since they have been apart.

I pray daily that soon, there will be good news as it relates to finding a cure for this disease. And I hope that she will find the happiness that she deserves.

Lashawnna Burney

I just read your message it sades me because if your friend husand knew all that time and didn't say anything to her. Your friend is a strong, I understand how she feels even though I felt the same way and still do I my hiv from a bloodtransfusion when I was a little baby,and even though I have been though alot with my past and present and if the roles was different I would have gotten him tested along time ago. and if he did have hiv then I would have apprecaited him telling me in the begining. but your friend should talk to her doctor about how many times her child should get tested and maybe get the others tested as well just to be on the safe. I felt the same way about have sex with men it took me time and patince and get to know him first ,then talk to him how he feels about hiv or knowing some 1 who has hiv .With my finance I told him from day 1 and even though he was confused as to why I am telling but he needing to know before with did anything and understand that it did nto control my life,but it apart of my lifeand he can either accept it or not and if he choose not to then hey that would be in him.

ebony ramirez

oh ya

tell your friend to be strong, look into support groups they help alot.(only when she is ready)

HIV/AIDS Support Group

hiv positive for 13 years + and need help now

need help urgent!!! dont want to be homeless or loose my job

Wow,, I know everyone heres the same story,, but I have a chronic condition.. have not seen a specialist in over 3 years and not taken meds or any follow up..I do not qualify for help.. make too much above poverty level 4 times..lol.. but don't have insurance. cant afford to pay cash.. anyway at this point I don't care anymore.. if i die within a few months or so.. my concern is that we are now behind on our rent 1,100.00 the car payments and insurance of 1300.00 and misc credit card, student loans, and utilities in the sum of another 1300.00 .. so basically we need 3500.00 to get out of this dilemma within a couple of weeks or we will be evicted.. and in 2 months loose our vehicles. thus loosing our jobs.. we own nothing.. I already lost my home few years back because of getting sick.. and chapter 7 took my home and car then.. so the obvious I have been paying dearly to establish a little credit.. big mistake.. but I have not wanted to be a drain on the system.. sad because I see so many people that get welfare, Medicaid, food stamps and don't work.. then me and my wife as tax payers need assistance and we don't get any help.. all agencies turn us down because we make too much.. have to be in a hospital and homeless. to qualify.. that is why our system is terrible.. why not help when we still can get on our feet.. with a little push.. I had to auto prescribe myself and buy drugs from Canada pharmacy based on research to keep myself functioning a little longer.. that is pathetic that I have to do this when others get it free.. Please help.. need to resolve things very soon..i am totally at the end.. and don't know what to do or get help from.. My story is longer.. from being abused as a child to being raped because of running away from the abuse.. hmm dad does not remember.. selective memory I guess.. so yes I need plenty of help the only blessing I have is my wife who sticks by me even with my condition.. I try to be a good provider and help others but this time I need the help and someone out there has to have a heart or provide us with medical assistance and meds.. and labs.. to keep me healthy to be around and a little financial help..